Weeks after primary loss, Kat Abughazaleh announces she’ll remain active in Chicago

Weeks after her grass-roots campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 9th Congressional District fell just short of victory, Kat Abughazaleh on Thursday revealed she’ll remain an active community organizer in the Chicago area.

In a two-minute video shared on her Facebook page, Abughazaleh — a former journalist and internet personality who finished a close second to Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss in the March 17 primary — pledged to keep her campaign headquarters open as a mutual aid hub offering food, clothing and other goods for people in need.

The office, at 7016 N. Clark St. in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, was a place where people could donate and pick up such goods throughout Abughazaleh’s campaign to succeed veteran U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky.

“We fed and clothed thousands,” Abughazaleh, 26, said in her video. “And we want to continue doing that work.”

Additionally, in a lengthier video released Thursday on her YouTube channel, Abughazaleh said she’ll host free community events such as movie screenings, game nights and knitting circles.

“And this is just the start,” she said.

Abughazaleh hasn’t responded to interview requests.

Abughazaleh finished about 4,500 votes behind Biss, recording nearly 26% of the vote to his 30% in a 14-way race that stretched across parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Abughazaleh’s total put her ahead of several established 9th District political figures, most notably state Sens. Laura Fine of Glenview and Mike Simmons of Chicago and state Rep. Hoan Huynh of Chicago.

Biss goes on to face Republican Party nominee John Elleson of Arlington Heights in the Nov. 3 general election.

Despite moving to Chicago less than two years ago and living in the 9th District for much less than that, Abughazaleh built a powerful grass-roots organization that raised and spent more money than any other congressional candidate in the state while largely eschewing support from deep-pocketed special interest groups.

Abughazaleh said she doesn’t want to squander what she and her supporters built.

“That’s one of the worst parts about campaigns in politics,” she said. “We let momentum and infrastructure die as soon as an election’s over.”

In addition to the community activities, Abughazaleh said she’s formed an organization tentatively called Kapow that aims to help Democratic candidates across the Midwest integrate mutual aid and direct community action into their campaigns.

The name pays homage to a popular comic-book sound effect. An illustration added to her Facebook page includes a slogan: “Turning Campaigns Into Community.”

A website offering a portal for donations has been launched at kapow.works.

As her YouTube video drew to a close, Abughazaleh insisted she isn’t abandoning her supporters.

“You didn’t abandon us,” she said. “And I can’t thank you enough for it.”